Rivers: A Very Short Introduction

Rivers have acted as cradles for civilization and agents of disaster; a river may be a barrier or a highway, it can support trade and sediment, culture and conflict. This Very Short Introduction is a celebration of rivers in all their diversity. Geographer Nick Middleton covers a wide and eclectic range of river-based themes, from physical geography to mythology, to industrial history and literary criticism. Offering a truly global look at rivers, with examples from all continents, including Egypt, India, and Bangladesh, Middleton considers the role that rivers have played in human history from settlements and trade to warfare, and also looks at the human impact upon rivers by the construction of dams and cutting of channels.

Author: Nick Middleton
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 05/04/2012
Pages: 144
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.30lbs
Size: 4.30h x 6.80w x 0.50d
ISBN13: 9780199588671
ISBN10: 0199588678
BISAC Categories:
- Nature | Ecosystems & Habitats | Rivers

About the Author

Nick Middleton is a geographer, writer, and well-known presenter of the Going to Extremes television documentaries. He teaches at Oxford University, where he is a Fellow of St Anne's College.